In a move that marks a significant shift in event access technology across China, organizers of large-scale events are increasingly adopting NFC (Near Field Communication) wristbands as the new standard for ticketing and crowd management. One of the most notable examples is the Strawberry Music Festival, which recently integrated NFC wristbands across multiple cities including Beijing, Chengdu, and Shanghai.
Organized by Modern Sky, the Strawberry Music Festival is known for its massive attendance and dynamic artist line-ups. This year, the festival introduced smart NFC wristbands as a contactless alternative to traditional paper tickets and mobile QR codes.
"This is the future of ticketing," said Liu Weifang, technical director of the festival. "The NFC wristbands not only speed up entry times, but they also help reduce fraud and improve security inside the venue."
Each attendee receives a personalized NFC wristband upon ticket purchase, which is pre-loaded with their credentials and access permissions. Upon arriving at the festival gates, attendees simply tap their wristbands against a reader to gain entry - a process that takes less than 2 seconds. The wristbands can also be configured to allow or restrict access to VIP zones, backstage areas, or media sections.
In some locations, the wristbands were also used for cashless payments, allowing fans to purchase food, drinks, and merchandise simply by tapping their wristbands at participating stalls. Users could top up their digital wallet in advance or connect to mobile payment platforms like WeChat Pay and Alipay.
The technology was provided by a domestic NFC solution provider, Shenzhen ASCENDIoT, who emphasized the reusability and eco-friendliness of the wristbands compared to single-use tickets. The move aligns with the broader trend in China's event industry toward digital transformation and sustainability.
Security experts also noted that real-name registration combined with NFC identity verification significantly improved crowd control and emergency response capabilities, as each wristband is traceable and can be deactivated remotely in case of loss or suspicious activity.
Other major events in China, such as the Tencent Game Carnival and Auto Shanghai Expo, have also started piloting similar systems, signaling a nationwide shift in how events are managed and experienced.
As China's live entertainment and exhibition industries continue to recover and innovate post-pandemic, NFC wristbands are emerging as a vital tool to modernize operations, improve user experience, and ensure safety - all while keeping fans connected and engaged.
Keywords: NFC wristbands, event ticketing, China, Strawberry Music Festival, cashless payments, smart events, Modern Sky, access control, wearable technology, real-name verification